Marian Evelyn Kurner
Marian Evelyn Kurner (nee Lloyd) passed away on April 16, 2025. She was born November 16, 1928, the second daughter of Franklin Chapman and Hettie Virginia (nee Geisinger) Lloyd. Descended from many generations of Ohio River Valley settlers, Marian was raised in Steubenville, Ohio, with her sister Ruth and brother Franklin. She attended school in Steubenville where she met her future husband, Charles “Chuck” Kurner, in seventh grade.
Following high school, Marian completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio. Three years later, she married Chuck with whom she shared 67 years, both immersed in challenging careers and the pursuit of common interests that included theatre, music, travel, community service, friends, and family.
After settling in Marietta, Marian served as teacher and principal in Marietta City Schools beginning in 1963 through 1990. During this time, she continued her studies at Ohio University receiving both a Master of Education degree and a PhD in Elementary Curriculum & Instruction. She was later awarded an international fellowship grant by Delta Kappa Gamma, an honor society for women in education, and traveled to England to expand her dissertation research on the perception of women principals.
A committed educational leader, Marian was a member of education honor societies Delta Kappa Gamma, Alpha Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi. She was also a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization as well as the Ohio Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Council of Administrative Women in Education.
At the time of Marian’s retirement in 1990, after 13 years as the school principal of Washington Elementary School, the staff organized a morning parade through Marietta in a top-down convertible carrying red roses given to her by her beloved husband and an afternoon assembly attended by students, staff, and faculty to honor her as “Queen for the Day”.
Community engagement was paramount to Marian. In addition the Mid-Ohio Valley Players, Marian was active in the United Appeal campaigns, the Franciscan meals program, the Friends of the Library, Caring Connections, and the Marietta Junior Reading Club. She was also a longstanding parishioner of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Shortly after retirement she described herself as busier than ever but joyful in being able to choose what she wanted to do. Thus, she was drawn back into the Mid-Ohio Valley Players as the director of the play “Driving Miss Daisy”, a play she described as one of the best she had ever seen because it touched a chord in everyone as funny but still a tender story of an unlikely friendship.
Remembered as a gracious hostess and loyal friend, Marian enjoyed countless longtime friendships. She possessed a wry sense of humor, quick wit, and infectious laugh – qualities her friends and family cherished. She was an accomplished cook with a sizable library of recipe books, an avid reader, a competitive crossword puzzler, a cat lover, and an enthusiastic chocolate connoisseur. As a resident of the Glenwood Community in Marietta, Marian was blessed to be surrounded by many wonderful neighbors and dedicated, compassionate care providers.
Marian is predeceased by her brother, Franklin, sister, Ruth Lloyd Short, and her beloved husband, Chuck. She will be lovingly remembered by her nephew, Tom Lechner, and wife, Karen, as well as her dear friend, Kristen Stone.
Special thanks go to all who lovingly and compassionately cared for her at The Pines and Marietta Memorial Hospital.
A commemorative service to be held in the Memorial Garden at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is being planned. McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home is assisting Marian’s family and messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.